[AR] Re: More thoughts on the SpaceX disaster
- From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Arocket List <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2016 16:18:12 -0400 (EDT)
On Sat, 24 Sep 2016, Keith Henson wrote:
But there is another consideration, the supercooled LOX. Supercooled
LOX is going to cause oxygen from the atmosphere to condense and run
down the tank.
Not necessarily, especially if the supercooling isn't large (LOX's liquid
range is not that wide). Even if there's no insulation, there will be
some temperature difference from inside to outside. (And if you chill
things down gradually enough to form a frost layer on the outside first,
that frost is actually not bad insulation.)
...nitrogen will not condense...
Actually it will, if you get any condensation at all, because (loosely
speaking) it will dissolve in the condensing oxygen. What you get is
somewhat-oxygen-enriched liquid air, not straight oxygen. Still a safety
concern, yes.
Henry
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